Thursday, June 13, 2013

I Could Totally Make That: Repost of "24 Incredible Cakes Inspired By Books" by Alanna Okun

The original article can be found here, but I've taken the ones I thought were coolest.

1. Where The Wild Things Are Cake


2. Vintage Book Cakes


From The Wilton Yearbook of Cake Decorating (1974).
3. Harry Potter Cake

4. The Giving Tree Cake
By Jujubay.

5. Cat in the Hat Cake

6. Goodnight Moon Birthday Cake

7. Vintage Books Wedding Cake

8. Very Hungry Caterpillar Cupcakes

9. Sorting Hat Cake


10. Little Book Cupcakes



Pretty amazing stuff.  Those cake makers are talented, but obviously I could top it!  Haha, not at all!  Which would you like to eat or have?  Or have and eat?

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Book Blast: The Immortal Circus Act Two by Katlyn Duncan



I am so excited to be participating in the book blast to celebrate the release of A.R. Kahler's THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS: ACT TWO today!



To help spread the word about its release in Kindle serial format, I have a GUEST POST from Mab, Ringmaster of the Cirque des Immortels, some information about this second book in the series and a couple of awesome giveaways to share.



With its stunning cover, its description which hints of dark things to come in this sequel and the even darker things that Mab alludes to in Vivienne's past, I am so unbelievably excited to be able to share this book on my blog.



Now let me turn things over to the Ringmaster...



***

GUEST POST from Mab – Ringmaster Extraordinaire and Circus Fashionista

Hello loves,



A few months have passed since we did our last tour, and oh, how I've missed you all.



This week, I am pleased to announce the next installment in our little show. Although it pains me to admit that we will not be doing a full blog tour, I am sure the tale ACT TWO weaves will keep you entertained. So many of you were dying to know more about Vivienne's past. In fact, many people seem to be dying when it comes to Vivienne's past but...I'd hate to spoil her surprise. Needless to say, this will be a show she will never forget.



And for those of you who need more than pretty words to tempt them, I am also hosting a giveaway. Five winners will receive Immortal Circus trading cards and a signed bookplate. One lucky winner will also get a signed copy of book one.



Six prizes, six winners. Six is my favorite number.



Step right up, loves. ACT TWO is just beginning....



Kisses,
Mab



***

About the Book



Title: THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS: ACT TWO (The Immortal Circus #2)

Author: A.R. Kahler

Publisher: 47North

Release date: June 11, 2013

Format: Kindle serial eBook (current). Paperback edition to be released.



Vivienne is almost content with her new life in the Cirque des Immortels. She has moved up from selling cotton candy to telling fortunes, she has a gorgeous, magical boyfriend, Kingston…and no one has been murdered since the clash between the otherworldly Courts. Her life under the faerie big top would be perfect, in fact, if not for the nightmares and visions that compel her to seek and confront her half-remembered past. But for Viv, not knowing her past may well be a blessing. There's a reason she ran away. But can she truly escape herself?



The second act of the fantastically evocative Cirque des Immortels series, The Immortal Circus: Act Two draws readers further into a world that’s at once wonderful, seductive…and deadly.



Step right up…





***

About the Author





Most little boys dream of running away to join the circus.



Alex didn't just dream it: he did it. But then, he rarely lets a good dream pass him by.



In the past six years he's toured and trained across America and Europe. He's performed in Amsterdam, taught trapeze in Madrid, studied in Glasgow and even had a stint as assistant to Holly Black and Cassandra Clare in New England. He's constantly on the lookout for new places to explore and new worlds to invent. He's a Sagittarius fueled by full moons and espresso. The way to his heart is a latte and fan art. Just for the record.



THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS, book one in his Cirque des Immortels series, is now available from 47North. ACT TWO releases today, June 11, 2013.



MARTYR, the first book in his post-apocalyptic YA fantasy series, THE HUNTED, is set to be published October 28, 2014 by Spencer Hill Press.







***


About Book One





Title: THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS (The Immortal Circus #1)

Author: A.R. Kahler

Publisher: 47North

Release date: December 4, 2012 (serial eBook); January 29, 2013 (paperback)

Formats: Kindle eBook, Paperback



Murdered contortionists aren’t exactly what Vivienne signed up for when she ran away to join the circus. But like most things under the big top, nothing is what it seems. With a past she can't quite remember, Vivienne finds that running away forever might not be as appealing as it once sounded—especially not when she realizes the devilishly attractive ringleader Mab is the Faerie Queen of legend…and that she and the rest of the troupe are locked in an age-old rivalry between the otherworldly Courts.



Aided by her friends Kingston—a feisty stage magician whose magic is quickly stealing her heart—and his smart-ass assistant Melody, Vivienne finds herself racing against the clock to discover the culprit behind a series of deaths that should be impossible. However, the answer she seeks might reveal more about her own bloody past—and future—than she bargains for.



The show's just beginning.



Step right up…



***

The Giveaways



Mab’s Giveaways (US ONLY):



GRAND PRIZE – A signed copy of book one, THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS, The Immortal Circus trading cards and a signed bookplate. (ONE WINNER)



PRIZES – Trading Cards and a signed bookplate. (FIVE WINNERS)



a Rafflecopter giveaway




***


Rockstar Book Tours Giveaways (International to anywhere that can accept eBook gifts from Amazon US)



A Kindle Serial eGift of THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS: ACT TWO. (FIVE WINNERS)



(All winners will be announced in the Rafflecopter and contacted by email.)




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, June 10, 2013

The Hobbit Poster

Check out the new poster for The Hobbit Part 2.  It looks pretty intense, and I'm not one to give much credit to these books, nothing against them, but my brother got me The Lord of the Rings for my birthday, which I still make fun of him for.  Ungrateful sister problems.  Anyway...


Sunday, June 09, 2013

One and Only: Four

Ahhhh! Entertainment Weekly released the first ever still if Theo James as Four in the upcoming film adaptation of Divergent by Veronica Roth.
I don't know anything about Theo James except that he's British, which is always a plus, but he sure meets my expectations for Four physically. And you?

Saturday, June 08, 2013

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery Movie

James Franco, Rachel McAdams, Jeff Bridges,Benicio Del Toro, Marion Cotillard, oh my!
This cast looks pretty awesome.  This book has been adapted into many languages from French as well as having been adapted into movies.



This new movie will be animated and directed by the director of Kung Fu Panda!


This sounds awesome!  I've never read the book in English or French, so I'll make it another goal of mine to read it  in French.  It's a kid's book that adults cab appreciate so it shan't be that hard to read!

Friday, June 07, 2013

Review: Wait for You by J. Lynn (Jennifer Armentrout)

Wait for You (Wait for You, #1)Wait for You by J. Lynn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn't need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.
Some things are worth experiencing…
Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.
Some things should never be kept quiet…
But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?
And some things are worth fighting for…
Why do I keep on reading new adult fiction and expecting something new?  So, I'm at the point of insanity according to Einstein I guess.

Characters: I have to say, I keep on reading these books because I have stumbled upon some amazing characters.  I like witty characters that can keep the funny diatribes coming.

While Cameron seems very caring, he lacks in the wit department.  Yes, he did have a few chuckle worthy lines, but he just didn't do it for me.

Also, I'm a weirdo, I will fully admit that, and I started this book from the end, then back to the middle until I reached the end, and then started from the front until I reached the middle.  I didn't find out the physical descriptions of the characters until I was more than halfway done because of this.  This may sound vain, but I wasn't into it as much when I found this out.  Whatever, I can picture the characters however I want in my head, so don't judge!

Avery is kinda a dull character.  She's not funny, and I think some of her actions were really stupid.  But she is kind, which makes me like her.

Plot:  Well at least it didn't start off with a friend dragging the main character to a club to get her to hook up with someone.  But yes, the characters live near each other, the girl has some dramatic past, the boy has some dramatic past that his playfully cocky attitude hides, the girl gets drunk and the guy is there,... But I still will admit to liking it just a bit.  It's a guilty pleasure.

Would I recommend this to a friend?
Ehh, not the best new adult out there but it's ok.  I'd recommend On Dublin Street by Samantha Young or The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski.  While their plots are similar, those characters at least have got some fire and sarcasm.


View all my reviews

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Blog Tour: Soul Taken by Katlyn Duncan



I am thrilled to be able to participate in the book blast for Katlyn Duncan’s SOUL TAKEN which released this week on June 4th!




To help spread the word about this awesome first book in the author’s new series The Life After, I have a GUEST POST from Katlyn in which she shares Top 10 Fun Facts About SOUL TAKEN.




There is also a short EXCERPT included in this post which definitely makes me want to read on to find out just what happens next.




AND there’s also a GIVEAWAY included for an eBook Kindle copy of the book to three winners, so be sure to check it out below!




The cover is amazing, the book sounds incredibly exciting and the author is awesome, so I am more than excited to share a little bit about SOUL TAKEN with my blog’s readers.





***


About the Book



Title: SOUL TAKEN (The Life After #1)

Author: Katlyn Duncan

Publisher: Carina UK

Release date: June 4th

Formats: eBook





After-life just got a lot more complicated



Maggie is a Soul Collector. It’s her job to transport souls from the Living Realm to the After – but during a mission to find a stolen soul, she ends up stuck in a teen mean girl’s body.



Trapped, Maggie’s soul is catapulted into Ally’s life – and the human world she hasn’t experienced for one hundred years. But, as a descendant of the most powerful beings in the After, Maggie must rescue Ally before the girl’s soul dies…



To survive, Maggie must uncover devastating secrets – because with one soul taken by a terrifying enemy, Maggie’s could be next!






***


About the Author



Katlyn Duncan was born and raised in a small town in western Massachusetts. Her overactive imagination involved invisible friends, wanting to be a Disney Princess and making up her own stories. Her bibliophile mom always encouraged her love of reading and that stayed with her since. Even though she works full time in the medical field Katlyn has always made time for books, whether she is reading or writing them.




Katlyn now lives in southern Connecticut with her husband and adorable Wheaten Terrier and she is thrilled to finally share her stories with the world.





***


Top 10 Fun Facts About SOUL TAKEN




1. The inciting incident came about while I was walking into my local CVS about four years ago. And it took those long four years to get it where it is today.




2. Two of the characters are named after dogs that I've had. One is still alive and she is thrilled to be a part of my story.




3. I based the high school after the one I spent four years of my life in. But it had been rebuilt several years ago, now it only lives on in my memory and in the book.




4. Maggie and I share an affinity for cemeteries.




5. It wasn't pitched as a series, but now I get to linger in this world for two more books.




6. I have a crush on two of my male characters, for very different reasons. (And I hope you will too!)




7. Two of the characters (who will have a much bigger role in Books 2 & 3) were never in the original drafts, they came out of left field and I'm so glad they decided to stay.




8. Gate Seven came from much thought about how I would want my after life paradise to look like.




9. One of my family members plays a small role in the novel. I was a bit nervous to select that scene since it nearly made me cry while writing it, but my editor loved it so much it had to stay.




10. It has an amazing cover!





***


I knelt down again next to Ally and reached out to touch her skin. Even though the sensation was unpleasant, I could feel her pulse as it rapidly declined.



“No,” I moaned. I looked up again to see if any of the Guard could help, but no one was around.



I looked back down at Ally. Her face was paling by the second. My soul started to tingle. I leaned closer to her body, reaching my hand out to touch her face again, when her arm moved toward mine.



I jumped back.



Heather pushed through the crowd. “Did she just move? Did I see her move?” Streaks of black mascara ran down her cheeks.



A ringing sensation tickled my ear and I tuned in to the True Soul’s presence. I looked at each human. The True Soul was close, but who had it? They all seemed equally shocked at the tragedy.



An uncomfortable pressure in my chest drew me closer to her body. My soul slanted toward hers until I was practically on top of her. I helplessly watched my hand morph and stretch toward her body.



“What the—?” I tried to pull back but the strength of whatever was happening had other ideas.



My hand disappeared first, then my arm, then my torso.



But before I could call for help, my world went dark.




***
An eBook Kindle copy of SOUL TAKEN to THREE (3) winners!





  • Must be 13 or older to enter
  • Must be able to accept Amazon Kindle eBook gifts from the U.S.




Enter in the Rafflecopter below...

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Wednesday, June 05, 2013

The Hobbit: Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly)

Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive on it, and I got so excited because I love Evangeline Lilly from LOST.  It was the best show ever, and I'm confident that she can play this part!

Who is Tauriel??

She's not in any of Tolkien's writings, but rather the writers created her to add a heroine to the mainly male cast.

“Tauriel is the head of the Elven Guard.  She’s a Sylvan Elf, which means she’s of a much lower order than the elves we all became acquainted with in The Lord of the Rings. She doesn’t hold the same kind of status that Arwen or Galadriel or Elrond or Legolas do — she’s much more lowly. She sort of goes against the social order of the elves a little bit.”
-Evangeline Lilly


Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Cover Reveal: Shades of the Stars by David James



Shades of the Stars: A Legend of the Dreamer anthology. Shades of the Stars includes the novellas The Witch's Curse, The Warrior's Code, and an exclusive story called The Enchanter's Fire. Exclusive playlists. Essays on the world of the Order. Interviews. Deleted scenes from Light of the Moon. And an exclusive look at the sequel, Shadow of the Sun.

PLAYLIST SONG-
“Demons” by Imagine Dragons-The Witch’s Curse

“I want to hide the truth. I want to shelter you. There’s no where we can hide.” This song is about the idea that fate will be fate and that’s that. The Witch’s Curse also reflects this idea. Magda comes to the realization that she is cursed, and because she does that is the fate she decided for herself.



BIO:
David James writes books about stars and kisses and curses. He is the author of the YA novel, LIGHT OF THE MOON, the first book in the Legend of the Dreamer duet, as well as the companion novellas, THE WITCH'S CURSE and THE WARRIOR’S CODE. A Legend of the Dreamer anthology, SHADES OF THE STARS, will be released in July 2013, and will include the exclusive novella, THE ENCHANTER'S FIRE. The final book in the duet, SHADOW OF THE SUN, will be released in late 2013. Living in Michigan, he is addicted to coffee, gummy things, and sarcastic comments. He enjoys bad movies, goofy moments, and shivery nights. Be sure to visit David’s blog and facebook to learn more about his various addictions and novels.


Stalk David

Monday, June 03, 2013

Free eBook! Love Lies Bleeding by Meghan Ciana Doidge


Should you be worried that I still think this cover is pretty?  Haha, go check out Meghan's eBook for FREE.  Hurry, today is the last day for the offer!  I'm going to check this one out soon :)

Sunday, June 02, 2013

Review: Until Fountain Bridge by Samantha Young

Until Fountain Bridge (On Dublin Street, #1.6)Until Fountain Bridge by Samantha Young

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Summary: An exclusive novella featuring Ellie and Adam, much loved characters from On Dublin Street and Down London Road
Ellie Carmichael has been in love with Adam Sutherland for as long as she can remember. What started as a childhood crush on the protective and best friend of her older brother bloomed into full-blown infatuation over the years. Unfortunately, it also meant full-blown heartache, as Adam refused to fall for his mate's little sister.
But it takes a crisis for Adam to realize he's wasted too much time denying his feelings for her. Unwilling to waste a second more, he decided to make Ellie his, no matter what the consequences. Now happily settled with the woman he's pined after for years, he's about to find out what their ten year courtship was like for her, through the journals she kept during their ups and many downs. And though Adam may have Ellie now, he has no idea how close he came to losing her . . .
Characters: Characters include primarily Ellie, Adam, Braden, and Joss.  If you've read the other On Dublin Street novels, you've figured out that Ellie is an absolute sweetheart and perky, maybe a little too perky for some folks.  But she's much more relatable in this story, something I really enjoyed.  You see her frustrated and hurt as opposed to her usually happy self which was getting a little boring for me.  I love characters with depth, so Ellie in this light was refreshing.  As for Adam, oh what a sweetie but an idiot!  He has moments where he is kind and funny, but he was a tool at other times!  He had his reasons,because he didn't want to lose Braden by dating his sister in the event that things went sour,but he acted so immature sometimes.  I would have been exhausted trying to figure out his deal if I were Ellie, but I'm so glad they get together:)  Just a little side note, what's up with the men in these books loving to get physical and throw punches? I don't like it.

Plot: First, I enjoyed that it overlapped with On Dublin Street's plot.  Well, obviously it had to since they got together during that book, but it was cool to see certain scenes twice.  Again, Samantha Young brings the emotion and lots of tension.  I love the drama!

Writing: How do I always find myself ripping through the pages of her books?  I just love the writing, with the occasion humorous but thrown in there even though neither Ellie or Adam are nearly as witty and audacious as Joss and Braden.  One thing I did think was a little odd was that a few of the journal entries were from when Ellie was pretty young, and it was odd that she was talking of pretty mature content.  And also, who writes diary entries that detailed?  Something I wished there were more of has to be the commentary from Adam.  After each chapter, he barely comments.  I wish he would have laughed at some parts or had more funny and playful lines.

Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, I'm loving Samantha Young's work!  If you're read On Dublin Steeet, you gotta read it!


View all my reviews

Saturday, June 01, 2013

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins Release Date?

Stephanie Perkins just wrote an extremely honest post about her next book, Isla and the Happily Ever After.  Remember when the release date went from fall of 2013 to early 2014?  Now it's sometime in 2014.  Stephanie suffers from depression, and it has been interfering with her work.  I'm super excited for this book to come out because Anna and Lola are amazing.  The wait seems like forever, but it is important that she's healthy and can continue to bring her genius to her readers!   



Friday, May 31, 2013

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Sequel's Title Reveal + Excerpt

The sequel penned by Ransom Riggs, which is not a pen name despite popular belief, hits shelves next January.  It takes place in 1940, right after numero 1 ended.  It's called HOLLOW CITY.  Entertainment Weekly has an except of the first couple pages that can be found here.  Can't wait to meet Mr. Riggs this Tuesday!


Thursday, May 30, 2013

Cover Reveal: Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge


Synopsis: If you’d asked me a week ago, I would have told you that the best cupcakes were dark chocolate with chocolate cream cheese icing, that dancing in a crowd of magic wielders — the Adept —  was better than sex, and that my life was peaceful and uneventful. Just the way I liked it. That’s what twenty-three years in the magical backwater of Vancouver will get you — a completely skewed sense of reality. Because when the dead werewolves started showing up, it all unraveled … except for the cupcake part. That’s a universal truth.

Genre: Urban Fantasy (Adult/New Adult)

Cover Artist: Irene Langholm

Release date: June 21, 2013

Giveaways and other swag will be revealed on Meghan's blog throughout June, including chances to win an eARC before the release date. 


Check out the Goodreads Page!

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Free Book! One that You Would Actually Want to Read!

Get two free Neil Gaiman books!

Want an eBook of How to Talk to Girls at Parties by Neil Gaiman?  Oui, click here!



Disappointingly,  I don't know when this offer ends, so hurry your butt up! 

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Oh, Carly! You Procrastinator!: National English Honor Society Inductions

Tonight was my NEHS inductions.  Now, my adviser is the type of guy who is laid back and kind of a throw it together last minute person.  Just getting the date of the induction set aside was a miracle.  I didn't expect to actually have an organized reading tonight.  Silly me.

So, tonight we sat in a big circle, introduced ourselves, and shared a meaningful passage from a book. My adviser/teacher started off and let everybody know that we had a week to pick out something special.  What was I doing at this time?  Flipping through Catching Fire trying to find something on the fly that had some sort of depth.  Of course, it's an honors society so everybody else had their pages bookmarked, flagged, highlighted, and ready to go.  Figures that I'm the only idiot searching last minute.

And what do I happen upon? The part where Madge tells Katniss to keep the mockingjay pin.  I was hoping for something about the mockingjay's significance, something that I would have probably found in The Hunger Games, but who knew there would be magic one flip of a page away.

I chose a passage about how the mockingjay was never meant to be a weapon, that the Capitol didn't take into account its ability to store genetic codes,... And somehow I pulled it stuff out of my butt about the symbolism of the mockingjay, it representing rebellion and resiliency.  I got to say, it turned out better than I thought.

Yes, this actually is one of my favorite books.  I do think the mockingjay is an important symbol.  It's on the cover of all of the books for goodness sake!  But it was just a funny moment in retrospect since I was the only one scrounging to find something among a group of well prepared, responsible students.  Funny how that seems to often be the situation.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Happy Memorial Day!

Thank you to all of those people who have sacrificed their lives for their country.  Thank you to all of those people currently defending me.  I know it's technically not Veteran's Day, and lots of people gave Obama poop for this tweet because of this, but it doesn't matter what holiday it is.  Frankly, it was among one of the pettiest arguments I've seen on Twitter, and I see a lot of them following an Obama tweet. EVERYDAY should be a day to appreciate those who have made bigger sacrifices so that you can live your life as well as thank those currently in uniform for what they do.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Friday, May 24, 2013

Did that just Happen?: The Great Gatsby Movie Review

7/10 stars

I never read the book.  My English class read Adventures of Huck Finn while every other one read Gatsby.  I planned to read it, but it just didn't happen before seeing it.

The cast was great, from Leo DiCaprio to Tobey McGuire.  It may just be because I'm a diehard Titanic fan and am a shipper of Leo and Kate, but I thought the chemistry between Gatsby and Daisy was a bit weak.

The cinematography was amazing!  The costumes and party scenes had a great 1920s air to it.  Compared to the trailers which looked like they could have given someone a seizure, the movie was much gentler on the eye but still had a little punch.

I recently watched Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, and it is similar to Gatsby in that it has a historical setting but was full of modern music.  Some people think that this adds to the movie, allowing the audience to find a modern connection while others believe that it detracts from the historic atmosphere. I fall within the latter.  I didn't realize it until the credits, but Jay-Z is an executive producer of the film.  No wonder.

I know that the book was fairly short, so I'm kinda surprised that the movie ran so long.  My behind was hurting after sitting for so long!  It definitely could have been shorter.

Someone who has read the book, did the ending end like that?  That's really depressing if so.  I don't think I could like Daisy if that happened.

I know I didn't read it, but I can't come up with any possible themes for this book should i have to analyze it.  Was it a reflection of the wealthy at the time, or was Fitzgerald simply warning us not to fall in love, especially with someone who's taken.

Overall, I did like the movie.  Its been mixed reviews which I don't find odd.  I saw it with my sister who read it and she didn't like it but I did.  Perhaps wait until it comes out on DVD if you are tentative.