Sunday, December 13, 2015

Blog Tour: Mistletoe and Mr. Right

Today we're featuring a new Holiday Book, Mistletoe and Mr. Right and author Lyla's top 10 Holiday songs.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
In Mistletoe and Mr Right, Jessica takes a flying leap and follows her boyfriend home for the holidays for Christmas break, sure that Ireland will provide the perfect backdrop to the beginning of their happily ever after. But it turns out his family – and his gorgeous ex-girlfriend – don’t feel the same way, and the only person making the trip worthwhile is a hot local, who has a way of showing up when Jessica needs him most ... and least.

The holiday high jinks continue in Sleigh Bells and Second Chances, when Jessica’s best friend makes her own way across the pond! Christina Lake does not want to be away at Christmas, but she has an intern job as publicist for London’s hottest band at their last-minute concert on Christmas Eve ... even though she had a fling with Cary, the band’s lead singer, that never officially ended. Now forced to reconnect, Christina is starting to think that maybe London is exactly where she’s supposed to be to get the perfect New Year’s kiss – at least until she finds out that he’s been lying the whole time. Can Cary find a way to prove himself before the clock strikes twelve? Or will the New Year ring in a new romance?

Lyla Payne wraps up two perfect holiday novellas, ties them with a ribbon of romance, and tops them with a light dusting of snow. Perfect to curl up with under the tree. Just add hot cocoa!




ABOUT LYLA PAYNE:
Lyla Payne is the USA Today bestselling author of the Whitman University series, the Lowcountry Ghost books, and the holiday novella Mistletoe and Mr. Right. She graduated from Texas Christian University with a degree in film but no desire to tackle Hollywood, and made it through three quarters of an M.A. in ancient history before writing took over. She lives in the Midwest with her two dogs, two cats, and the characters in her head. Find her online at lylapayne.com and on Twitter: @Lyla_Payne.
LINKS: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr 



The Fun Stuff!

Lyla's Top 10 favorite Holiday Songs
10. The Christmas Song
9. The First Noel
8. Slow as Christmas (Clint Black)
7. Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer (No matter how wrong, you have to love it)
6. Oh Holy Night
5. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays (yes, by N’Sync)
4. All I Want for Christmas is You (Mariah Carey)
3. Silent Night
2. Oh Come, All Ye Faithful (Check out the one Josh Groban does with Faith Hill – wowzers!)
1. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Christina Aguilera’s version is one of my favorites, along with Bing Crosbys!)



Tour Schedule:
12/14: Resch Reads & Reviews - Review

Giveaway Time!

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Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Blog Tour: The Trouble with Destiny

Today we have a special feature with Lauren Morrill, Author of The Trouble With Destiny. The Trouble with Destiny hit shelves on December 8, 2015, and having already read it, I can tell you that it is the perfect light read that shows you how important the people around you are.

About the Book:

It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey...

With her trusty baton and six insanely organized clipboards, drum major Liza Sanders is about to take Destiny by storm—the boat, that is. When Liza discovered that her beloved band was losing funding, she found Destiny, a luxury cruise ship complete with pools, midnight chocolate buffets, and a $25,000 spring break talent show prize.

Liza can’t imagine senior year without the band, and nothing will distract her from achieving victory. She’s therefore not interested when her old camp crush, Lenny, shows up on board, looking shockingly hipster-hot. And she’s especially not interested in Russ, the probably-as-dumb-as-he-is-cute prankster jock whose ex, Demi, happens be Liza’s ex–best friend and leader of the Athenas, a show choir that’s the band’s greatest competition.

But it’s not going to be smooth sailing. After the Destiny breaks down, all of Liza’s best-laid plans start to go awry. Liza likes to think of herself as an expert at almost everything, but when it comes to love, she’s about to find herself lost at sea.


 



About the Author
Lauren Elizabeth Morrill is many things, including, but not limited to, a writer, an educator, a badass roller derby skater, a former band nerd, an aggressive driver, and a die-hard Mac person. She also watches a lot of TV, eats a lot of junk food, and drinks a lot of Coke. It's a wonder her brain and teeth haven't rotted out of her head.

Lauren is the author of Meant to Be, Being Sloane Jacobs, The Trouble With Destiny, and the forthcoming My Unscripted Life (October 2016), all from Random House. 





The Fun Stuff

I asked Lauren who the top 10 people you would want to be stranded on a boat with (people you know/celebrities). Liza is stranded on the boat with a combination of people who she likes and dislikes. Check out Lauren's list below!

1. Sarah Dessen, because she’d make you feel like it’s all going to be okay
2. Emery Lord, because you know she’d make you laugh
3. Libba Bray, because she’d tell the best stories
4. Mario Batali, because someone needs to keep us fed, and Mama likes pasta
5. Adele, because #squadgoals
6. Lauren Graham, so we could play Gilmore Girls pretend
7. Taylor Kitsch, so we could play Friday Night Lights pretend
8. Tina Fey, because more laughing
9. Mindy Kaling, because EVEN MORE LAUGHING
10. Amy Poehler, because YASSSS QUEEN 
  More fun stuff!
Did you not think we were going to do a giveaway?! Of course we were! One winner (US or Canada) will win a prize pack of signed copies of all Lauren's books and Swag!

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Check out the rest of the tour below!


Tour Schedule:
Week 1:

Week 2:

Week 3:

Week 4:
 

Monday, December 7, 2015

THEIR FRACTURED LIGHT Blog Tour Review

A year ago, Flynn Cormac and Jubilee Chase made the now-infamous Avon Broadcast, calling on the galaxy to witness LaRoux Industries' corruption. A year before that, Tarver Merendsen and Lilac LaRoux were the only survivors of the Icarus shipwreck, forced to live a double life after their rescue.
Now, at the center of the galaxy on Corinth, all four are about to collide with two new players in the fight against LRI.
Gideon Marchant is an underworld hacker known as the Knave of Hearts, ready to climb and abseil his way past the best security measures on the planet to expose LRI's atrocities. Sofia Quinn, charming con artist, can work her way into any stronghold without missing a beat. When a foiled attempt to infiltrate LRI Headquarters forces them into a fragile alliance, it's impossible to know who's playing whom--and whether they can ever learn to trust each other.
With their lives, loves, and loyalties at stake, only by joining forces with the Icarus survivors and Avon's protectors do they stand a chance of taking down the most powerful corporation in the galaxy---before LRI's secrets destroy them all.
The New York Times best-selling Starbound trilogy comes to a close with this dazzling final installment about the power of courage and hope in humanity's darkest hour.
~*~

Before you can any further, let me ask you a question:

Have you read These Broken Stars or This Shattered World yet?

If your answer is "no" please exit this blog immediately and purchase those two books.

Trust me, I'm doing you a favor.

If you have read those books and you're just curious about my thoughts on this amazing final book in the series, than you may proceed.

And, I will try to be as spoiler-free as I can, even if I want to gush as much as possible. Let's be honest, this review is all GUSH.


Monday, November 30, 2015

Review: Daughter of Dusk (Midnight Thief #2)

Author: Livia Blackburne
Goodreads Rating: 4.01
Pages: 384
After learning the truth about her bloodlines, Kyra can’t help but feel like a monster.

Though she’s formed a tentative alliance with the Palace, Kyra must keep her identity a secret or risk being hunted like the rest of her Demon Rider kin. Tristam and the imprisoned assassin James are among the few who know about her heritage, but when Tristam reveals a heartbreaking secret of his own, Kyra’s not sure she can trust him. And with James’s fate in the hands of the palace, Kyra fears that he will give her away to save himself.

As tensions rise within Forge's Council, and vicious Demon Rider attacks continue in surrounding villages, Kyra knows she must do something to save her city. But she walks a dangerous line between opposing armies: will she be able to use her link to the Demon Riders for good, or will her Makvani blood prove to be deadly?

In this spellbinding sequel to Midnight Thief, Kyra and Tristam face their biggest battle yet as they grapple with changing allegiances, shocking deceit, and vengeful opponents.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Blog Tour: Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

Who doesn't love a good picture book? Even better, who doesn't love a picture book with SASS? (Or one based on such a classic!) Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins is a delightful, fun and enjoyably adorable book for both adults and the kids they're sharing them with (or the not, it's totes fine if it's just for you!)

I'm so happy to showcase Ryan T. Higgins today and introduce you to MOTHER BRUCE!



ABOUT MOTHER BRUCE:
Bruce the bear likes to keep to himself. That, and eat eggs. But when his hard-boiled goose eggs turn out to be real, live goslings, he starts to lose his appetite. And even worse, the goslings are convinced he's their mother. Bruce tries to get the geese to go south, but he can't seem to rid himself of his new companions. What's a bear to do?


LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Website | Facebook 


Tour Schedule:

Giveaway:
2 Finished Copies of MOTHER BRUCE

 To enter, comment on today's (or all of the) tour post! Leave your email address!

~*~

Thank you so much to Hannah and Disney-Hyperion for allowing me to participate on the tour! 

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Review: The Gap of Time by Jeanette Winterson


Title: The Gap of Time
Author: Jeanette Winterson
Goodreads Rating: 3.9
Format:  Finished Copy from Blogging For Books
The Winter’s Tale is one of Shakespeare’s “late plays.” It tells the story of a king whose jealousy results in the banishment of his baby daughter and the death of his beautiful wife. His daughter is found and brought up by a shepherd on the Bohemian coast, but through a series of extraordinary events, father and daughter, and eventually mother too, are reunited. In The Gap of Time, Jeanette Winterson’s cover version of The Winter’s Tale, we move from London, a city reeling after the 2008 financial crisis, to a storm-ravaged American city called New Bohemia. Her story is one of childhood friendship, money, status, technology and the elliptical nature of time. Written with energy and wit, this is a story of the consuming power of jealousy on the one hand, and redemption and the enduring love of a lost child on the other.

I honestly do not know where to start. This book was incredible, just as I knew it would be. Jeanette Winterson is an amazing story-teller and has reached perfection again with this retelling. 


Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Blog Tour: Poet Anderson...Of Nightmares

Hey all! Long time no speak. I'm baaaaaaaaack.

After a few weeks of radio silence, I've decided to ignore the stress of work and jump head first into NaNoWriMo, reading and blogging.

That includes blog tours!

I'm really excited to bring you Poet Anderson....Of Nightmares tour today. This book looks badass, dudes.

Check out this excerpt and giveaway!




~*~
Excerpt from Chapter 11

POET ANDERSON...OF NIGHTMARES

by Tom DeLonge and Suzanne Young
Samantha laughed, watching him for a moment before dropping her shopping bags on the pavement. She stepped closer to Poet and reached out to take his tie, studying it as she let the fabric run through her fingers all the way to the very tip.
“I can only imagine,” she said, lifting her eyes to his. She was so close now, but Poet didn’t think he should touch her. Didn’t want to break the spell.
But he was reminded of Jarabec’s warning that the streets of Genesis weren’t entirely safe. There was a reason he came to Sam, he knew. He was here to protect her.
“We should go somewhere,” Poet told her, his voice low. “I can take us.”
Sam lifted her eyebrows as if she didn’t believe him.
“Close your eyes and think of a place,” he said. When Sam closed her eyes, Poet focused on an empty wall of a building behind her. He concentrated, tuning in to the heat of Samantha’s body, the sound of her breathing, the hum of her soul.
A sense of doubt crept over him. He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to tunnel without the fear of a monster or soldiers chasing him, but Jarabec had said that poet’s guided dreamers to safety. He couldn’t let anything happen to Sa- mantha. He’d do better than he had for Alan.
Concern and grief poured over Poet. There was a zap of electricity and the burn, his eyes going white with power. The air began to swirl, wind kicking up as a tunnel formed. Poet looked down at Sam, her face calm as she thought of a place. He smiled and put his palms on her upper arms, feeling her attach to another dream. And then he sent them both through the tunnel.
Samantha gasped, stepping out of Poet’s hands as she looked around, confused at the new surroundings. The tunnel sealed itself and Poet felt his body relax as the energy faded, his eyes returning to dark brown. He was getting good at tunneling, and his pride swelled.
Poet looked around the dream, and then burst out laughing. He and Sam were standing before a set of iron gates, a child’s carousel with tinkering music spinning slowly behind it. The crystal lights danced against the white and pink horses wearing red ceramic bows. Mirrors in the center reflected it all out again. It was pretty—if you were into haunted doll houses.
“This,” Poet asked, “was what you thought of?” He didn’t want to admit he’d been hoping for something a little cozier...like a bed.
Samantha grinned, scanning the place. “Okay,” she allowed. “Maybe not the best choice.” She took a step toward the gate, laying her hand on the iron fence as she looked over the scene. “God,” she said. “I haven’t been here in years.”
“Your parents willingly took you to a place like this?” Poet teased.
“Be quiet,” she replied. “My mother said my taste was ornate for a seven-year-old.” Samantha gripped the railing, leaning forward dreamily. “After my parents divorced,” she continued, “my father would still take me here sometimes. I can’t remember where it is. In fact, Poet Anderson,” she looked over her shoulder at him, “I forgot all about it until I met you.”
I was supposed to meet her, he thought suddenly. “You were lost,” Poet said, mostly to himself. He knew then that Samantha must have wandered into the Dream World, her existence there drawing him to her. And yet, even now, even here where she was safe, Poet’s attraction to her wasn’t the least bit lessened.
Samantha walked over to stop in front of him, gazing up. “How did you bring us here?” she asked. “Should I be scared?”
“Asks the girl who can make a creepy carnival,” Poet replied making her laugh. “Ax-wielding clowns aren’t going to pop out and chase me, are they? You’re sick, you know.”
Sam shook her head, her expression serious. “No way. Killer clowns are third date material.”
Poet adored every word she spoke. “We should just skip to going steady, then,” he said. “I fucking hate clowns.”
Samantha stared up at him, the lights from the carousel reflected and glittering in her eyes. “I recognize you,” she said, guilt crossing her features. “I know you’re the guy from my English class.”
Poet stiffened, feeling exposed. Embarrassed, even. He wanted her to think he was more. “Yeah,” he said, pressing his lips into a self-conscious smile. “That’s me.”
Sam pushed his shoulder playfully. “You jerk,” she said. “First you borrow my pen and then you chased me down on the street to flirt with me. Next day at school, you acted like I was crazy. What’s your deal?”
Poet winced. “It’s not you,” he said. “I can’t remember my dreams when I wake up. I haven’t been able to since my parents died.”
             “Your parents? Oh, my God, Poet.” Sam put her hand on his forearm. “I’m so sorry.”
He looked down, not letting himself focus on the grief. “It was a while ago,” Poet said, quietly. “But now I’m trying to remember my dreams again. I have to.” His worry for Alan spiked again, and Poet closed his eyes.
“Poet,” Sam said, sounding alarmed. “Your hands.”
Poet looked down, surprised to find electricity zapping between his fingers. It didn’t hurt; it was a tingle, really. A hint of power, power he wanted to share.
He held out his hand and Sam looked between his face and the electricity. Poet nodded, and Sam slid her palm against his, her breath catching at the initial shock. She squeezed her fingers between his, and closed her eyes as the energy pulsed between them.
Poet watched her. He could feel her heartbeat, and see the rise and fall of her chest. She was so beautiful. “I want to kiss you,” he murmured.
Sam looked at him, the slight pink of nervousness rising on her cheeks. “That sounds like it could be fun,” she said.
Poet moved toward her, the anticipation nearly strangling him. His head was spinning with desire, possibilities. He didn’t think he’d ever wanted a girl so much as this.
Sam cursed suddenly and stepped out of his reach. Poet stumbled forward, his eyes widening. For a moment, the world around him shimmered, fading as if he was surrounded by ghosts, until it snapped back into focus.
“What’s wrong?” he asked Sam when he saw the stricken expression on her face. “I’m sorry. Did I—”
             “No,” she said, reaching to take his hands. “It’s not you. You’re great. You’re...perfect.” She motioned behind him, and Poet turned to see the carousel flickering out until it was gone altogether. Erased. Sam was waking up.
Samantha stepped into Poet, wrapping her arms around his neck as she put her mouth next to his ear. “Remember me when you wake up,” she whispered, and kissed his cheek. Poet closed his eyes, but realized he couldn’t feel her lips on his skin.

When he looked again, Sam was gone.

~*~


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Top 10 Book to Movie Adaptations

(Brought to you by the Broke and the Bookish)

Hello! This week, we will be sharing our top 10 book-to-movie adaptations. This will actually be separated into different sections: Best book-to-movie adaptations I've seen, Book-to-movie adaptations that need to exist right now, and book-to-movie adaptations that need to be remade into better book-to-movie adaptations. Let's begin :)

Best Book-to-Movie Adaptations
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
This one is obviously at the top of the list. I'm putting the whole series because I did enjoy all the movies. I mostly have the opinion that the books are, for the most part, better than the movies. This is one where I enjoy the books and the movies fairly equally, when viewed as what they are. That is, the books are good books, and the movies are good movies. However, when comparing books to movies, the books win :)

Hunger Games series
Like Harry Potter, this is another one where I enjoyed the books more than the adaptation but I still really enjoyed the movies, mostly when looking at it as a movie, not a book adaptation.



Lord of the Rings series
This is one of the rare cases where I enjoyed the movies more than the books. I attempted reading the Lord of the Rings and quit around the time Gandalf had a 5 page monologue... It just was not my cup of tea, but I adore the movies.



Book-to-Movie Adaptations That Need to Exist Now
The Lunar Chronicles
This is one where I would be over the moon to see a movie come out, but at the same time, I would be extremely nervous because I love the books so much. I would have very high expectations for the movies, as would most of the fans. I have heard rumors of the rights to the Lunar Chronicles being sold and a screenplay being in the works so we will see :)


Throne of Glass
This is another where I would love to see a movie but would hope it would be half as good as the books. Rumor has it that Throne of Glass was optioned for a TV show by the Mark Gordon Company (most notable for Grey's Anatomy). All I can say is, I'll take a TV show :) And again, hope it is half as good as the books. 

 
5th Wave
This book is already set to come out in January 2016 and I'm fairly excited to see it. I hold my usual reservations, but so far it looks good. I really enjoyed the book and can only hope the movie is the same.




Book-to-Movie Adaptations That Should be Remade 
 
City of Bones
I haven't seen the movie but I was actually reluctant after hearing some of the backlash from it's release. I really liked the books and didn't want that opinion to be tainted by a bad movie. Since then, apparently a TV show (Shadowhunters) is in the makings to try to redeem the movie and I have fingers crossed that it does.





Da Vinci Code
I adored Dan Brown's books. The mystery and suspense I had when reading, were sadly absent during the movies. Da Vinci Code has been my favorite of the Robert Langdon series so far and I was sorrowly disappointed in the movie. I hope the series can redeem itself in the new movie, Inferno, set to come out in October 2016.



Eragon
 Oh Eragon.... a classic case of a book-to-movie flop. I enjoyed the book a lot while reading and tolerated the movie to a point. I really liked the animation of Saphira, but no matter how many times I watch the movie... I can't get behind it, not even as just a movie. I hope something comes along sometime to try a type of do-over.





Percy Jackson series
An example of a movie that I disliked so much I almost blocked it from my memory. I've watched Lightning Thief at least twice and both times I can't really remember any specific parts of the movie. I read these books as audio books and really enjoyed them and thought they had a lot of potential as movies, I just wish they were executed better. 



So tell us.... What are your favorite book-to-movie adaptations? What movies are you excited for??

Monday, November 9, 2015

Ten Tousand Skies Above You

Author: Claudia Gray
Goodreads Rating: 4.39
Pages:424
Format: Finished Copy from Publisher
My Rating: 5 Crowns!

 Ever since she used the Firebird, her parents' invention, to cross into alternate dimensions, Marguerite has caught the attention of enemies who will do anything to force her into helping them dominate the multiverse—even hurting the people she loves. She resists until her boyfriend, Paul, is attacked and his consciousness scattered across multiple dimensions.

Marguerite has no choice but to search for each splinter of Paul’s soul. The hunt sends her racing through a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each world brings Marguerite one step closer to rescuing Paul. But with each trial she faces, she begins to question the destiny she thought they shared.

The second book in the Firebird trilogy, Ten Thousand Skies Above You features Claudia Gray’s lush, romantic language and smart, exciting action, and will have readers clamoring for the next book.


Thursday, November 5, 2015

Hello? Blog Tour Playlist

If you don't already know Liza, then you are missing out! This month, her debut, Hello? came out. I was lucky enough to be picked to be part of the blog tour.
 

About Hello?
 

One HELLO? can change a life. One HELLO? can save a life.
Tricia: A girl struggling to find her way after her beloved grandma's death.
Emerson: A guy who lives his life to fulfill promises, real and hypothetical.
Angie: A girl with secrets she can only express through poetry.
Brenda: An actress and screenplay writer afraid to confront her past.
Brian: A potter who sets aside his life for Tricia, to the detriment of both.

Linked and transformed by one phone call, Hello? weaves together these five Wisconsin teens' stories into a compelling narrative of friendship and family, loss and love, heartbreak and healing, serendipity, and ultimately hope.

Told from all five viewpoints: narration (Tricia), narration (Emerson), free verse poetry (Angie), screenplay format (Brenda), narration and drawings (Brian). Visit everyone else for the remainder of the tour for some special treats!


Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | The Book Depository
About Liza:

I am the author of two non-fiction adult books, short stories, and newspaper and magazine

articles. A pre-school to high school educator now writing YA fiction full time, which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! And I'm a diehard Green Bay Packers fan.

For my author posts on writing and my upcoming YA novel HELLO?: http://www.LizaWiemer.com
Unique "job" experiences: I spent a summer selling popcorn in a Koepsell's popcorn wagon while listening to awesome music on the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee. I also know my way around a fender and a quarter panel and under the hood of a car. I spent a few years driving to accident scenes, scrapyards, hospitals, auto repair shops as a claims adjuster for an insurance company.


Links: Website | Twitter | Blog  

Today, Liza is sharing the Playlist that she listened to while writing HELLO?



These are some of the songs/CDs I played while writing HELLO?


Adele’s “21” CD
Keane “Perfect Symmetry” CD
Various versions of “Mad World”
Frank Sinatra songs: “New York, New York,” “Call Me” and “Strangers in the Night.”
Jay Z and Alicia Keys’s “Empire State of Mind”
Led Zeppelin’s “Communication Breakdown”
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova’s “The Swell Season,” particularly “Falling Slowly” and “When Your Mind’s Made Up”
Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer”

Of course, the coolest song is Adele’s new HELLO! There are some incredible connections between my HELLO? and her HELLO and I’ve been enjoying all the texts, emails, Twitter, and Facebook messages pointing out some of the similarities!





The Rest of the tour has some awesome extras too so be sure to check them out!
Week 1:



Week 2:
Nov. 11Swoony Boys Podcast - Character Interview

Week 3:

On a final note, you really think Hannah would have a tour without a giveaway? Foolish. Check out how to win below.


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